Intermittent flow device



Aug. 30, 1932. D. B. DOW 7 1,374,932.

INTERMITTENT FLOW DEVICE Filed 001;. 2Q, 1928 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [20 13 13 16 1.2 I6 Z8 '5' 5 iooeooliaoooobaoooc l [1111111 0 I4 13 if/ 0; C o O 4 Q I Q 5 o o o 0 f1? 10 Aug. 30, 1932. DQBJDOW 1,374,932

INTERMITT-ENT FLOW DEVICE Filed Oct. 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 $MWI Don/14.40 B Dow,

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l I .DONALD B.DOW, OF BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR TO II N'DIAN' TERRITORY ILLUMINATING OIL COMPANY, OF BARTLESVILLE; OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY INTERMITTENT FLOW DEVICE Application filed October 20, 1928. Serial No. 313,833.

1 This invention pertains to apparatus for directing the flow of fluids and more particularly to automaticapparatus which will direct the flow into different passages at different times. a

' In" certain operations ofdeep Wells, such as oil wells certain methods of pumping or flowing oil from the well involve the use of compressed air or gas, the same being de livered to thewell intermittently. On aecount of such intermittent operation, t 1s more economical to supply two or more wells nected with a compressed or other source, preferably under pressure,

passages or channels atwpredetermined inmeans which may deriveits source of power from a source of flowing water or the like.

Another object is to provide improved means for regulating the operation of such a device so as to render the same positive in its action. 1

Further objeotswill appear from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aview in elevation with parts in section of controlling mechanism embodying thisinvention;

Figure2. is a plan view of the same illustrated as applied to apairof wells; v

Figure 3 is a viewin elevation of another embodiment of this invention; s

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a sectional'detail of one of the valves."" 1

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a source of fluid supply, which may be conair tank or gas tank The supply conduit 1 has branches 2 and 3 leading to a pair of valves 4 and 5. Outlet conduits 6 and 7 lead from the valves 4 and rom the same source of air or gas and to which may be regulated bya valvev 5 to the point where the fluid is to be utilized; as, for'instance, the wells 8 and 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 thereon an I valve stems l4 and 15 of the. valves 4 and. 5,-respectively,

said stems being provided with roller bear-' ceive waterfrom a source of su the other'side ofthe pivot 12 from the container l'Zis mounted a counter-weight 20 ad:

justable along the beam in order to counterbalance any portion of the weight of the container 17, and the water contained therein.

Suspended in any suitable manner from the beam 13 is a container 17 adapted to repp y 19. On

and 2, a support 10 has adjustably mounted;

upright 11 having pivoted there- 7 to at 12 a beam 13. .The beam 13 isarranged to co-operate with the In order to empty the-container 17 at intervals, a siphon21 is mounted therein, hav

suitable drain 23. A valve 24 may be proinganoutlet 22 adapted to discharge into a V vided to regulatethe rate of flow through the siphon.

water so as to empty the container.

In order to insure the operation of the siphonwhen the liquid level falls to a determined point, a tube 24,

container and has its lower end opening prompt interruption of V 'This siphon is so placed that when the level of the liquid in the container rises to the top of the siphon, the latter willbecome filled and begin to "siphon ,ofi' the upwardly, as shown at 25. "The tube 24 is adapted to admit air to the crest of the 'si-' phon when the water level 25 of the tube. positive action,

falls tothe mouth In order to insure a more a cup 26 is attached to the mouth 25 of the tube and issetto open up- 'wardly. .When the water level falls to the rim of the cup 26, said cup isolates a certain quantity of water, which can be drained only through the tube 24and the long leg of the siphon. The arrangement is suchthat this quantity of w'aterpassesout rapidly so that the 'waterl'evel in the cup 26 falls faster than counter-weight is adjusted to the desired oint and thereafter the apparatus may be,

left to itself. As the container 17 fills up with water, its weight increases and'at certain point overbalances the counterweight 20 so that the container l'lsinks, rockingthe beam 13 on-its pivot 12 and operating the valve stems 1a and 15 so as to close the valve .20.;

' shut off the flow of fluid from the conduit landopen-the valve 5. This operates to "fisothat the supply of the well 8 is inter- 'rupted and at the same time'the flow is directed to the conduit 7 so as to supply the well 9. As the water continues to rise in the container 17, after a certain interval has elapsed, it'will reach the crest of the siphon 21, whereupon the water Will begin" to drain outiof. the container '17. The arrangement is fsuchthat the water'drains outthrough the siphon faster than it runs in from the -sup-' ply 18. Accordingly,'after another interor gas is.

and 9.

va l, the water level 'in the container 17 will have fallen to the". rim'of'th'e cup 26. After this point is reached, the above described actioniof the cup 26 and'the tube 2 L takes lace and the siphonic action isinterrupted.

he water thereupon ceases to .drain from the container 17 and the latter begins again to fill up.- Thereafter the same cycle is. repeated at regular time intervals, and theiair In the embodiment of Figures and 4, the

container 17 has itssiphon 210 mounted on the outside thereof. In this case also, the'container is suspended on theends of two'beams having counter-weights 29 and 30; The valvese l andw5 in this case arearranged to work oppositelythat is, one of them closes as its stem descends, and the other oneopens by a similar movement. The arrangementof the tube 24i may' be applied to the siphon in this case also.

Figure 6 illustrates aconstruction of the valves 4. and5, such as to be balanced by the pressure of the air or gas. The body 32 has 'a'n inlet 33 and an outlet 3% An internal wall 85' provides a chamber communicating with the outlet 34.; Two valve seats are formed in the wall 35 to accommodate valves 36 and 37.

' Thel valve 37 is acted. uponby the inlet pressure within the body of the valve and surrounding the wall 35, suchl pressure acting to close the valve. The valve 36, on the other means of the valve 19. The

will supply a pair of "is claimed is? p v 1. A device fordireotinga flow offluid supplied alternately to the wells 8 :a plurality hand, is acted'upon by the same pressure in a direction tending to open the valve. 'The valves are connected by a bar 38 so as to have the same movement for opening and closing. Accordingly, the pressure of the supply is balanced so that the effort necessary to open or close the valve will be independent of the pressure of the gas.

It will be seen that this invention provides simple and effective means for directing a fluid periodically to different passages. The

uniform rate of flow of the Water operates to iweight the container which periodically empties itself by means of the siphon, as described. -The device is entirely automatic and wells with intermittent air or gas pressure asylong as it is. permitted to operate. A greater number of wellscan,

ofcou'rse, be supplied from the same source by additional sets of apparatus.

features of the device may be useful without reference to 'other features thereof, and the use ofsuch sub-combinations is contemplated bv this invention. Itis further obvious that 5 spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, tolbe understood that this inven'tionflis not to be limited to the specific details s'hownand/or described. Having thus described the invention, what various changes may befmad'e, within the scope of the appended claims, inthe details of construction without departing from the I It is understood, of.course,"that certain alternately to differentpassages, comprising,

"aplurality of valves controlling the'ldifierent passages, a container adapted toreceive water, counterwelghted means for pivotally supporting said container,

determined-interval, a tube in said'container communicating withthecrest of said siphon and whose lower end opens upwardly above the inlet to said siphon,and connections actu- V ated by movement of said container adapted alternately to open and close said valves 2. A device for directing afflow. of ffluid alternately to different passages, comprising,

passages, a container adapted-to receive a siphon in said container adapted to empty thesame after a of valves controlling-thedifferent water, counterweighted means for pivotally supportingsaid container,[a siphon in sea container adapted to empty the'same after a determined interval, a tube in said container communicating with the crest of said siphon and whoselower end communicates with a cup opening upwardly above the inletto-said siphon, ment of open and close said valves,

3. A devicefor direc" of valves controlling the different and connections actuated'by movel said container adapted alternately to ting a flow of fluid alternately :to different passages, comprising,

a plurality passages, a container adapted :to ireceive:

water, counterweighted means for pivotally supporting said container, a siphon in said container adapted to empty the same after a determined interval, a tube in said container communicating with the crest of said siphon, means communicating with said tube adapted to isolate a small quantity from the body of Water in said container to be drained ofi rapidly through said tubeand said siphon, and connections actuated by movement of said container adapted alternately to open and close said Valves.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature this 11 day of September, 1928. v

DONALD B. DOW. 

